While critics had things to say about Jay-Z’s verse on “Drunk in Love” and the remixed audio from the 1986 Challenger disaster in “XO,” the most noticeable song was “***Flawless,” which features an excerpt from Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s TED talk on feminism. I’m so glad to be back on viz again after some time away, especially as having to write posts again gives me the chance to discuss Beyoncé Knowles’s newest record, Beyoncé, which was released without any press or preview in late December as a “visual album.” The album has 14 songs and 17 videos included in it. It may not be academic feminism, or a type of feminism that society is used to seeing when thinking “feminist”, but Queen B is rocking sexual liberation, control and self-ownership which are all central to the ideologies of feminism.Image Credit: Screenshot from "***Flawless" video Overall, the song Flawless amongst endless other songs shows us how validated Beyoncé is in her feminism. It is a slap in the face of what we are supposed to believe to be an appropriate display of a woman’s sexuality. The hook of the song, including lyrics such as: “we flawless, ladies tell em, say ‘i look so goodnight tonight’ goddamn, goddamn.” This sentence alone displays the sexy confidence Beyoncé owns and the same confidence she wishes all women develop and portray. She is ambitious and establishes herself as an independent, aspiring, successful woman who lives a life far beyond the socially expected norm of being a wife. ![]() She has an extremely successful career of her own, she is a loving mother, and has a worldwide fan base in addition to being happily married. “I took some time to live my life, but don’t just think i’m his little wife.” Here specifically, I believe Beyoncé is stating that she is so much more than merely Jay-Z’s wife. The focus of criticism in the song is all directed towards the very repetitive message of “bow down bitches” yet, this draws away from the pro-fem themes throughout the rest of the song, Flawless. She allows girls world wide, including myself, to feel this power. I personally, fully agree with what Beyoncé is trying to channel within this song, and many other songs of hers that may bring her feminism into question. A lyricism of empowerment that made her feel as she says “gangsta.” “Bow down, bitches” is a lyrical explanation of what’s wrong with assuming that being feminist requires one to follow a script, and not your own heart. She claims it was the side of her that she felt she needed to defend it was motivation a burst of anger she wanted to express, for her “haters”. Beyoncé addresses the ambiguity of the line “bow down bitches” in the article Beyonce Explains Bow Down. ![]() The sexiness, the confidence, and the strength portrayed in her work is one that many females perceive as admirable, empowering, and liberating. Feminism is meant to be all inclusive, Beyoncé, in this specific song, in many other songs, and in her mannerisms, is pro-woman without being anti-man. If Beyoncé claims she is a feminist, well then, who are we to say that she isn’t one? Feminism is not a one size fits all, unilateral movement with specific guidelines. ![]() She is able to both own and express herself, who she is, in a culture that works against such ideals. Now, Beyoncé is an artist who is most definitely not afraid to express her sexuality through her music, however the sexuality that she conveys is one that she owns as a strong independent woman. Much criticism targeting Queen B, Beyoncé Knowles, arose after the release of her new single Flawless. While the song is feminism based, with samples by acclaimed feminist writer Chimamanda Adichie, some critics argue it is in fact counter feminist as the bridge of the song states “bow down, bitches” repetitively.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |